Last Christmas posting dates 2025

As the big day looms, the pressure is on to get presents, cards and parcels out the door in good time, which is why knowing the last posting Christmas posting dates is crucial.

Millions of items move through the UK’s postal network in the run-up to Christmas, pushing an already busy system into full stretch mode.

That’s why it’s important you need to plan early to ensure your cards and presents are bought, wrapped and posted to the recipient.

Full list of carriers

Royal Mail, Evri and rival carriers publish their own Christmas cut-off dates to help people time their card and present send-offs.

Those deadlines shift depending on the service, from standard post to tracked, courier or next-day delivery.

Check below to see the full list of last posting dates from a range of carriers to ensure you don’t miss out this year.

Don’t forget too that most carriers have widened their networks in recent years, adding more drop-off points and collection options to ease the festive rush.

ParcelShops, Click & Collect locations, live tracking and flexible delivery slots all help take some of the stress out of posting at the busiest time of year.

Keep those cut-off dates in view, plan a little ahead, and there’s far less chance of a present arriving after the turkey is finished.

To help, here’s a useful YouTube video from Royal Mail, called ‘How to send Christmas cards’.

Check the last posting dates

The Post Office is not only reminding customers to check its latest recommended last posting dates but also urging everyone to avoid the intended recipient becoming a statistic.

It says that 67% of us have received festive cards and presents in the post after Christmas Day.

With a third of people sending gifts via the Post Office, Postmasters are urging the public to send early to avoid being part of the 17% of us who’ve previously left it too late and missed the final posting date.

For the 58% who admit leaving their Christmas admin, including shopping and posting, to the last-minute, they have up until 23rd December to send their gifts and cards with Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed® or DPD Gold which both guarantee a next day delivery or your money back.

Postmaster, Arif Matadar, shares his top tips on how to ensure packages get to loved ones on time this Christmas: “When you’re posting a parcel, we’ll always ask what’s inside as we need to find out if it’s safe to post and make sure your item can be sent to its destination.

“For example, perfume can be sent within the UK, but not overseas.

“We’ll also check the value, how quickly you want it delivered and what tracking you want which helps us recommend the best delivery option.”

He added: “It’s also important to package your parcel securely so it’s protected on its journey, and to write addresses as clearly as possible to help it get to where it needs to go and a return address just in case there are any problems.

“With delivery carriers especially busy at this time of year, these small steps make a big difference to ensure your gifts arrive safely and spreading a little extra Christmas cheer along the way.”

Help and advice to post Christmas cards

Addressing a Christmas card doesn’t need to be complicated, but a bit of care goes a long way.

Start with the recipient’s name on the top line, then list the street, town and postcode underneath, with each detail on its own line.

Clear handwriting or a printed label makes life much easier for posties working through huge December volumes.

If the card is heading overseas, don’t forget to add the country as well.

Adding a return address on the back is optional, yet it can be useful. If the card can’t be delivered, it gives it a way back to you and, for some, there’s always the hope of receiving a festive card in return.

Add a postcode to your card

Tracking down the right postcode can make a real difference when you’re sending Christmas cards.

If you only have part of an address, a postcode finder can help you fill in the missing detail before the card goes in the post.

Including a postcode speeds things up considerably.

Sorting machines rely on them to move mail quickly and accurately through the system.

A card without one will usually still arrive, but there’s a good chance it will take the scenic route and show up a little later than planned.

You can use Royal Mail’s Postcode Finder, even with a partial address, to find the correct postcode.

Where to put the stamp

Stamp placement is one of those small details that can have a big impact.

On a Christmas card envelope, the stamp should always sit in the top right-hand corner.

That’s where sorting machines expect to find it, allowing your card to move smoothly through the system.

Put it anywhere else and it may be pulled aside for manual checks, which can slow things down.

It’s also worth keeping an eye on size and weight.

Larger cards and envelopes count as large letters, and prices for 1st and 2nd class increase once you’re sending anything up to 100g.

Before posting, it’s sensible to double-check the current rates so there are no surprises at the Post Office counter.

You can find out how much a first- and second-class stamp costs from the Royal Mail website.

2025 last Christmas posting dates and carriers

• Last Royal Mail 2nd Class: Wednesday 17th December
• Last Parcelforce express48 date: Friday 19thDecember
• Last Royal Mail Tracked 48 date: Friday 19thDecember
• Last Evri Standard date: Friday 19th December
• Last Royal Mail 1st Class date: Saturday 20th December
• Last DPD 2Day date: Saturday 20thDecember
• Last Parcelforce express24 date: Monday 22nd December
• Last Royal Mail Tracked 24 date: Monday 22nd December
• Last Evri Next Day date: Monday 22nd December
• Last DPD Next Day date: Monday 22nd December (some postcode exceptions)
• Royal Mail’s Special Delivery Guaranteed: Tuesday 23rd December
• DPD Gold: Tuesday 23rd December.